Resources
Primary Sources
History in the Raw - Short essay on why to teach using primary sources, by National Archives.
U.S. National Archives and Records Administration - NARA has wonderful lesson plans using the documents which preserve our nation's history.
Our Documents - This site is created by NARA to display the top 100 most influential documents in U.S. history. They are shown in their original format or typed text. Background info as well as impact information is given with lesson plans.
U.S. Library of Congress - The American Memory page is filled with primary sources arranged by topic or you can use the search engine to find that special photo, diary entry, letter or article.
National Register of Historic Places - Using properties listed on the National Park Service's National Register of Historic Places, this site offers primary source materials within each lesson and activity.
Avalon Project - This site hosted by the Yale Law School contains primary sources for U.S. and world history
Herblock's Cartoons - Editorial/political Cartoons from the Crash (1929) to the Millennium (2000) by Herb Block
African-American Odyssey - This Library of Congress site contains slave narratives, letters, biographies, photographs and even the history of baseball and Jackie Robinson
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Presidential Libraries
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Professional Organizations & Journals
National Council for the Social Studies - If you haven't joined, try to join. It's monthly magazine, one for secondary and one for elementary, contain very useable lesson plans, primary source materials, and articles giving valuable info on technology, strategies for ESL or special needs students. The web site also contains recommended trade books for all grades, grants and tours possibilities.
Texas Council for the Social Studies - This is our states' version of the NCSS. Monthly magazine has useable lessons and tips for all grade levels.
Social Studies Center for Educator's Development - This is TEA's social studies site. Find your TEKS, TAKS, biographies, bibliographies for grades K-12, and review lesson plans for Objectives One and Four.
Organization of American Historians - This site gives you access to their monthly journal which contains historical articles on traditional American history.
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Current Events
C-Span in the Classroom - This site keeps the people current on what is happening in the three branches of our national government. It also contains a daily lesson plan for today's news as well as a lesson plan archive by topic.
New York Times - The Times presents a daily lesson plan which contains a two to four page article for the students to read. Each 45 minute lesson includes warm up writing, discussion guide, and a closing activity. The Daily Snapshot is for elementary students. The site contains an archive of lessons by topic, crossword puzzles, a "This Day In History" page and copies of the Times' front pages showing famous historical events.
CNN - This site gives you world-wide coverage of what's happening right now. It also as a lesson plan site to use with the daily news.
National Public Radio - This site gives you current events that were told on the radio. It's a more worldly view of happenings, both political and social.
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Television Programs
The History Channel - This site gives you the television schedule for all shows that can be taped and played in your classroom, as well as the supporting lesson plans.
The Biography Channel - This site gives you the television schedule for all the shows that can be taped and played in your classroom, as well as the supporting lesson plans.
Public Broadcasting System - PBS has created some wonderful lesson plans using primary sources and group activities. You do not have to show the movie or documentary to use them. Click on Teacher Source and see all the lesson plans. Or click on PBS Kids for elementary lessons and games. Or click on PBS Go for the middle school lessons and games. You can also look up the schedule for the local PBS station, KERA.
National Geographic - You might think this is better suited for geography class, but the U.S. history TEKS do contain that geography strand, and this site is filled with lessons, maps, photos, current events and professional development possibilities for all grade levels.
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Fun Sites
KidSite.Com - This site contains "the best in kid's web sites". It's geared to the elementary student, but adults will have fun with the games also.
Library of Congress presents America's Story from America's Library - Meet amazing Americans, jump back in time, explore the states, join other Americans at play, and see, hear and sing along.
Library of Congress presents the Wise Guide-- It's a monthly newsletter containing articles from picnics to baseball to the West to World War II which will introduce you to the many fascinating, educational and useful resources available in the Library.
First Gov for Kids--This provides links to other Federal government web sites for kids.
The White House--This site contains more than just information on the current president, but it gives the history of the house, all the previous presidents and their first ladies. You can also read about White House traditions and take a tour.
The U.S. Mint's H.I.P. Pocket Change--If you ever wanted to learn about the history of our coins and paper money, this is the site. Great lessons for elementary students that bring math and science into the history lesson.
Education World--More articles and lessons than you ever dreamed possible. Just search the site and you'll be amazed at what is there. Try "soar into spring with kites!"
ThinkQuest --contains 5,500 web sites created by students as part of a yearly competition.
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